# Can the Democrats win the Alabama senate special election in December? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 13, 2017, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504 "2017-08-13T00:49:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 64
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1261 "2017-12-13T04:09:34Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Before we go overboard riding the progressive wave…just as how last year the Democrats nominated the only person in America who could lose to Donald Trump; Alabama Republicans nominated the only candidate who could lose to a Democrat. > > Don’t get me wrong…picking up a Senate seat is huge. But I’m not sure we can read too many portents, just yet. Oh, I most definitely agree; If “Big” Luther Strange had won the primary, he would have won this by about 7-8 percentage points (IMHO) and the only reason it would have been that close was Strange’s accepting the position from the Governor he was supposed to be investigating. This was a self-inflicted wound by the Republicans. We’ll just have to see if they’re in a mood to start feuding among themselves and inflict other self-administered wounds. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1262 "2017-12-13T04:10:03Z")
Now it’s “How Great Thou Art” and “We’re still counting”. On what, God to strike down Jones with lightning? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1263 "2017-12-13T04:10:09Z")
Molester Claus got worked, but at least he can spend more time with the kids. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1264 "2017-12-13T04:10:32Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I agree. But this is huge in terms of morale boosting and candidate recruiting. Democratic state and local office holders who were wondering whether they should run for governor, representative, or senator, will all be more likely to do so because of this win, and Republicans might be less likely. It can be hoped. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Democrats somehow continued to let lots and lots of seats go unchallenged. They’ve refused to fight for all seats everywhere for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1265 "2017-12-13T04:12:37Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Oh, I most definitely agree; If “Big” Luther Strange had won the primary, he would have won this by about 7-8 percentage points (IMHO) and the only reason it would have been that close was Strange’s accepting the position from the Governor he was supposed to be investigating. I wonder if Trump will say “I told you so! You should have nominated Strange!” ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1266 "2017-12-13T04:12:53Z")
> > [@Donald J. Trump](#): > > Congratulations to Doug Jones on a hard fought victory. The write-in votes played a very big factor, but a win is a win. The people of Alabama are great, and the Republicans will have another shot at this seat in a very short period of time. It never ends! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1267 "2017-12-13T04:13:22Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > It can be hoped. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Democrats somehow continued to let lots and lots of seats go unchallenged. They’ve refused to fight for all seats everywhere for a long time. The good thing is that enthusiastic Democrats can run whether or not the national party recruits them. I think national mood is a lot more important to these sorts of potential waves than actions by the national party organizations. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1268 "2017-12-13T04:13:57Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Uh, folks, might want to go over to the Alabama Secty. of State website. Latest numbers are in Moore’s favor… > > [Alabama Votes | Alabama Secretary of State](http://www2.alabamavotes.gov/electionNight/statewideResultsByContest.aspx?ecode=1000915) As of 10:12 pm the networks are showing a vote total over 100,000 votes more than the Sec. of State website. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1269 "2017-12-13T04:14:01Z")
That’s a surprisingly graceful tweet for him. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1270 "2017-12-13T04:14:20Z")
The Secty of State’s numbers now align with the idea of a Jones win. Whew. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1271 "2017-12-13T04:14:39Z")
Cripes, they’re still singing…C’mon out, Roy! Take your lumps like a big boy. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1272 "2017-12-13T04:14:40Z")
NOW they are going to slog through “All Hail The Power” This is getting moore and moore painful to watch as it drags on. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1273 "2017-12-13T04:15:41Z")
Interestingly, voter turnout was almost 38%. That’s not bad, considering. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1274 "2017-12-13T04:15:55Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > It can be hoped. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Democrats somehow continued to let lots and lots of seats go unchallenged. They’ve refused to fight for all seats everywhere for a long time. Although the chart doesn’t count for geographic distribution, apparently the Democrats are fielding a seemingly [unprecedented number](https://politicalwire.com/2017/12/11/blue-wave-challengers/) of challengers in 2018. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1275 "2017-12-13T04:17:10Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > That’s a surprisingly graceful tweet for him. I doubt he actually wrote it. Which I’m actually not going to make fun of him for, as it’s really about the same as reading the text from a speechwriter. The question is will he stay off Twitter and let the reasonably classy response stand? ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1276 "2017-12-13T04:17:12Z")
[Moore party](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcJGM7htXr0) - looks like someone might be coming out to talk. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1277 "2017-12-13T04:17:21Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > That’s a surprisingly graceful tweet for him. Isn’t this where you check to see if it came from an Android or iOS device? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1278 "2017-12-13T04:18:02Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Before we go overboard riding the progressive wave…just as how last year the Democrats nominated the only person in America who could lose to Donald Trump; Alabama Republicans nominated the only candidate who could lose to a Democrat. > > Don’t get me wrong…picking up a Senate seat is huge. But I’m not sure we can read too many portents, just yet. I’m not suggesting progressives/Dems should sit on their laurels and coast. Far from it. Our system of government remains in great peril. Certain Republicans will redouble their efforts to make their time count between now and the mid-terms, not least because of the urgency they feel as a result of the outcome of this election. There are few depths to which they will not stoop. But this win is a confirmation that progressives/Dems are paying attention, getting involved, exercising their right to vote and mean to change things in Washington. I personally think the only good thing to come out of the Trump “win” is that progressives and Dems have become seriously reengaged in the democratic process. This win will help carry us along on a very, very challenging journey going forward. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1279 "2017-12-13T04:18:46Z")
I assume, given the title of the thread, we can move this to General Questions, say “yes”, and call it a day? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/1280 "2017-12-13T04:20:37Z")
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